Florida State was able to overcome another sluggish home start on Wednesday night to get the victory to even its ACC record. FSU now will have a chance to get its biggest win of the season as it visits Virginia on Sunday night.
After a 69-60 victory over Boston College, Florida State heads into Charlottesville with a 15-12 overall record which includes a 7-7 mark in ACC play. The second-ranked Cavaliers come in 24-1 and an ACC-leading 12-1 in conference.
Key Players for Florida State
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Fr.-G): 13.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.5 APG
- Montay Brandon (Jr.-G/F): 12.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 55% FG
- Devon Bookert (Jr.-G): 11.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 44% 3PT
Key Players for Virginia
- Malcolm Brogdon (Jr.-G): 13.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.7 APG
- Anthony Gill (Jr.-F): 11.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 57% FG
- Darion Atkins (Sr.-F): 7.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.1 BPG
The loss of swingman and second-leading scorer Justin Anderson to a hand injury will certainly hurt Virginia, but the Cavaliers have won games this season with defense. Virginia yields the fewest points in the entire country and plays a very physical style of basketball. Virginia does not have the size Florida State does, but the Cavaliers are a tougher squad and that’s the type of team that has given the Seminoles fits this season.
Against the nation’s top defensive team, Florida State will need to cut down on the turnovers. The Seminoles turned the ball over 10 times in the first half against Boston College on Wednesday night. Xavier Rathan-Mayes will need to be more efficient for the Seminoles to have a chance. Rathan-Mayes, a freshman, leads the team in scoring and assists, but has been dismal from the field and turnover prone in two of his last three games.
Conversely, junior guard Devon Bookert has been very efficient of late for the Seminoles. Bookert has averaged 16 points while shooting 67 percent over his last three games.
With Anderson out, Malcolm Brogdon will be asked to carry the scoring load for Virginia. A junior, Brogdon has struggled from the field this season, but is Virginia’s most prolific scorer. Sophomore London Perrantes doesn’t put up gawdy numbers from his point guard position like Rathan-Mayes can, but has been extremely efficient, posting better than a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio this season.
While Mike Tobey and Darion Atkins could prove to be tough covers for Florida State’s inconsistent trio of 7-footers, the Seminoles are long and athletic. 6’7″ junior Montay Brandon and 6’9″ sophomore Jarquez Smith are each players who will need to put together solid games for Florida State to have any chance to do the unthinkable at John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday.
En route to an ACC title, Virginia took all three match-ups against Florida State last season including a 78-66 win in Charlottesville. Joe Harris scored 18 points to pace the Cavaliers while Aaron Thomas and Okaro White each scored 15 to lead Florida State.
Sunday’s meeting is set to tip off after 6:30 P.M. and will be televised on ESPNU.
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